Plans have been submitted to Highland Council for the expansion of Grantown Caravan Park, with proposals including 38 additional caravan plots and a new wellness and leisure building.
Owner Austen Durant has lodged the application for the site off Seafield Avenue in Grantown. The proposals also include landscaping, drainage works, and biodiversity enhancements across the development area.
The application originally proposed 50 additional holiday caravan units, but the number was reduced to 38 following feedback received by the applicants. The proposed expansion would occupy areas currently comprising grass and trees.
Beauly-based Bell Ingram Design, acting as planning agent, said the reduction was intended to limit the development’s visual impact while allowing for additional screening.
“Initial development plans proposed 50 holiday caravan units but in response to feedback this has been cut to 38 to reduce the visual impact of the development and allow increased screening planting.
“Extensive biodiversity enhancement proposals are included with the application extending to the full area of the site including the existing caravan park.”
The planning submission states that the proposed development falls entirely within an area identified in the Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan as an existing development allocation, designated “T1; Caravan Park for Tourism.”
The applicant owns all of the land included in the proposed development, according to the Strathspey & Badenoch Herald.
The site contains a number of mature trees, and the application says a full topographical survey was undertaken to identify their locations. According to the submission, the development has been designed to retain all existing mature trees.
“The proposed development area includes numerous mature trees.
“A full topographical survey has been carried out including identifying the location of all existing mature trees with the development proposals carefully considered to allow retention of all trees.”
The proposed landscaping would use native species and is intended to strengthen existing screening around the site, particularly from views to the southeast.
“The landscaping proposals seek to enhance the existing mature landscaping setting of the site with planting of native species.
“This is with a view to maximising the screening effect for the development from outwith the site with particular consideration given to views to the site from the south-east.”
The application does not specify the facilities that would be provided inside the proposed wellness and leisure building.
Grantown Caravan Park has operated for more than 30 years and currently accommodates static holiday caravans, touring caravans, campervans, pods, and tent pitches. In 2023, planning approval was granted for 16 additional holiday caravans within the existing caravan park.
The latest proposal would continue to use the existing vehicular access to the park. While SEPA flood maps identify potential flood risk adjacent to the site, the planning agents state that the proposed development area sits at a higher elevation than the identified areas of flood risk.
For campground and caravan park operators, the proposal highlights several operational considerations associated with expanding an established site.
Reducing the number of units in response to planning feedback, retaining mature vegetation, and incorporating biodiversity and screening measures could help address visual and environmental considerations that often influence tourism development applications.
The proposed wellness and leisure building could also provide an opportunity to broaden the site’s amenity offering, although its specific facilities and potential contribution to guest demand have not yet been detailed in the application.
The planning application will now be considered through the relevant planning process.
